title: Environmental ozone exposure and oxidative DNA damage in adult residents of Florence, Italy.
abstract: In 71 adults residing in Florence, Italy, enrolled in a prospective study, we investigated the correlation between individual levels of oxidative DNA damage detected by the Comet assay in circulating lymphocytes, and a specific ozone exposure score calculated in 10 different time-windows (0-5 to 0-90 days) before blood drawing, based on daily measurements provided by the local environmental monitoring system. Overall, statistically significant positive correlations between average ozone concentrations and DNA damage emerged in almost all time-windows considered; correlations were more evident among males, non-smokers, and traffic-exposed workers. Multivariate regression analyses taking into account selected individual characteristics, showed an independent effect on DNA damage of average ozone concentrations in the last 60-90 days before blood drawing. Local residents showed a divergent pattern with correlations restricted to shorter time-windows. Our results suggest that ozone concentrations at ground levels modulate oxidative DNA damage in circulating lymphocytes of residents of polluted areas.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (ISPO), Via Cosimo il Vecchio 2, 50139 Florence, Italy. d.palli@ispo.toscana.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sera
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giovannelli
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grechi
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bendinelli
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caini
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolara
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saieva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D010126:Ozone